Yusof retains silver in time trial at Para World Champs

Big aim: Mohd Yusof Hafizi Shaharuddin hopes his silver medal will help in his bid to earn a quota slot for Malaysia at the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics.

KUALA LUMPUR: Track rider Mohd Yusof Hafizi Shaharuddin’s perseverance paid off as he successfully defended his silver medal for Malaysia in the men’s C1 1km time trial event at the Para World Championships in Apeldoorn, Holland.

The Kuala Kangsar-born cyclist finished the final race yesterday with a time of 1:13.300s, just 0.114s behind the gold medallist Liang Weicong of China, who posted 1:13.186s.

Yusof maintained a consistent pace throughout the four-lap race, recording 22.402s for the first 250m, followed by 38.835s at the 500m mark and 55.661s at the 750m mark.

He also finished second behind Weicong in the meet last year.

Spaniard Ten Argiles Ricardo took the bronze with a time of 1:15.092s.

Yusof had qualified fastest for the final after clocking 1:1:13.839s in his qualifying run.

The Asian Para Games bronze medal winner Yusof hopes his latest performance will help in his bid to earn a quota slot for Malaysia at the 2028 Los Angeles Paralympics.

“It was tiring as we had to prepare for two back-to-back competitions within a space of three weeks but I have done my best to fight for the best results for Malaysia,” said the 2025 best para athlete of the year.

There was double joy for Malaysia as another national representative and debutant Nuraini Shukri clinched a bronze in the women’s C1 sprint event.